Hegseth’s Frantic Clash with Chairman of Joint Chiefs Revealed
The defense secretary’s flip-flopping on a key promotion led a top general to step in.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Chaos in the Pentagon over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s indecision and flip-flopping prompted President Donald Trump’s favorite general to intervene.
The latest debacle in Hegseth’s tenure as defense secretary was his decision to torpedo the promotion of Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims after previously signing off on it, insiders told The New York Times.
Sims is a 34-year Army veteran who led troops during five tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and has been awarded numerous medals, including a Legion of Merit and a Bronze Star.
Defense Secretary Hegseth refused to promote Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, who has served for 34 years and won numerous medals.
JoAnne Sorrentino/U.S. Army
“He’s the type of person you would want your kids serving under—extremely dedicated, selfless, and loyal,” Brynt Parmeter, who was until June the Pentagon’s chief talent management officer, told the Times.
His promotion to a four-star general seemed all but certain, insiders said, until this spring, when Hegseth claimed without evidence that Sims had leaked information to news outlets.
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Sims was cleared of the allegation, and Hegseth for a time agreed to promote him. But Hegseth eventually reneged, this time arguing that Sims was too close to Gen. Mark Milley.
Hegseth was confronted over his decision by Trump’s favorite general, Dan “Razin” Caine.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Milley is a former Trump Joint Chiefs chairman whom the president now loathes—Trump has suggested that Milley deserves execution, while Milley has called Trump a “total fascist.”
Hegseth’s refusal to promote Sims prompted what the Times called a “rare intervention” from Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan “Razin” Caine, of whom Trump is a big fan. Caine challenged the defense secretary’s decision, urging him to reconsider, the insiders said.
While Hegseth agreed to meet with Sims one more time, it didn’t matter. Hegseth stood firm, and now Sims is expected to retire in the coming months. Nineteen out of the last 21 generals of Sims’ rank were promoted, according to the Times.
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan “Razin” Caine urged Hegseth to reconsider his decision.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Asked for comment on the situation, the Pentagon sent the Daily Beast a statement from chief spokesman Sean Parnell thanking Sims for “his decades of service in the United States Army.”
Hegseth’s tenure as defense secretary has been marked by chaos within the Pentagon.
Over the past several months, reports have emerged about infighting among Hegseth’s top aides, his paranoia about leaks, and a struggle to hire and retain staff.
Nevertheless, Trump has continued to stand behind Hegseth, as a White House spokeswoman told the Times that the defense secretary still has the president’s “full confidence.”
This article has been updated to add greater detail about Sims’ military career.
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